(Reuters) – Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has departed from the ice cream brand he helped establish nearly half a century ago, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

Greenfield argued that the Vermont-based company has lost its independence since UK parent Unilever curtailed its social activism, according to the report.

Reuters could not confirm the report. Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Greenfield said he could no longer “in good conscience” continue working for a company that had been “silenced” by Unilever, despite a merger agreement meant to safeguard the brand’s social mission, according to a letter by Greenfield to the consumer group cited by FT.

“That independence existed in no small part because of the unique mer

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